The association of retrolental fibroplasia with cerebral diplegia.

Both retrolental fibroplasia and cerebral diplegia are known to occur more frequently in infants born prematurely than in those born at term, and the chance association of the two conditions might therefore be expected in a small number of premature infants. In the course of two contemporary investigations, the first a survey of the occurrence of retrolental fibroplasia in the City of Edinburgh during the five years 1948-1952 (J.D.K.), the second a survey of the aetiology and incidence of cerebral palsy in the same city (T.T.S.I.), the two conditions were found in association in six instances. From a consideration of the case incidence of the two diseases, it appeared that the association was more frequent than would be expected by chance, and that there were probably aetiological factors other than prematurity common to both retrolental fibroplasia and cerebral diplegia. In the present study the common factors thought to lead to the association of the two diseases are considered.